Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty
Disney’sEncantotook center stage at the 94th annualAcademy Awards— but not without a surprise guest.
The animated film’s hit song"We Don’t Talk About Bruno"was performed at the ceremony despitenot being eligiblefor an Oscar nomination. (The film’s nominated song"Dos Oruguitas" was submitted for Academy consideration over “Bruno.")
Bruno himself (John Leguizamo) introduced hisEncanto"family” to the stage and sing the top-streamed Disney song. Carolina Gaintán opened the song alongside Mauro Castillo before otherEncantostars — Stephanie Beatriz, Adassa, Diane Guerrero and Rhenzy Feliz — joined in.
In one of the night’s biggest surprises, three-time Grammy winnerMegan Thee Stallionadded her own rap verse to the Disney hit, including lines about the 2022 Oscars ceremony. She name-checked one ultra-famousEuphoriaandSpider-Man: No Way Homestar with the line: “Stars everywhere, I need to see Oscars,Zendayaover there.”
Encantodirector Jared Bush said in the press room afterward that the performance was “amazing,” adding that he wasn’t in on the special appearance either!
“I’d say they kept a lot of secrets from us,” he continued. “We knew there was going to be something unexpected, but I absolutely loved it. Different people have found themselves in this story. Seeing Megan Thee Stallion do it was mind-blowing.”
Neilson Barnard/Getty
The song’s virality scored it a place on the 2022 show — afterEncanto’s release, it steadily climbed the charts before claiming the top spot. During that climb, itsurpassed the massive 2013 hit “Let It Go” fromFrozen, which peaked at No. 5.
When it topped theBillboardHot 100, “Bruno” became only the second Disney animated film to achieve the feat. (“A Whole New World” fromAladdinwas the first in 1992.)
Encantoalsobecame the first movie soundtrackto reach the top of theBillboardHot 200 sinceFrozen IIin 2019, also dethroningAdele’s 30 after six weeks of leading the charts.
WriterLin-Manuel Miranda, 42, previously told PEOPLE hewasn’t expecting the song’s success. “I’m surprised it’s ‘Bruno,'” he said.
RELATED VIDEO: Stephanie Beatriz On How She Relates to HerEncantoCharacter
Oscars producer Will Packer explained how the song was chosen for a live slot atthe Oscarsduring a Thursday press conference.
“Think about something like ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno.’ If there is a song that unites people this year that is kind of the epitome to me of what movies can do because people of all stripes ages, colors, ethnicities, backgrounds around the world were singing that song ad nauseum,” he said. “And we’re going to help them out so they sing it a little bit more.”
He joked, “Our apologies to the parents.”
Encanto.Disney
In more behind-the-scenes trivia about “Bruno,” Miranda previously revealed that the only child who isn’t in love with the tune is his son Sebastian, 7, whom he shares with wife Vanessa Nadal. The couple are also parents to 3-year-old son Francisco.
“My son came home from school today and he was like, ‘Daddy,everyone’ssinging it,'” Mirandasaid. “He’s both proud and like, ‘All right, already.’ Because remember, he heard that song last May. He’s way over it.”
RELATED VIDEO: Mom Finds Internet Fame for Looking Just Like Super-StrongEncantoCharacter
Encantohas beenchampioned for its Latin representation, telling the story of the Madrigals, an extraordinary family living hidden in the mountains of Colombia, where the magic that has gifted every child in their line is in danger.
source: people.com
